Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Twins Wednesday 9/1 game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2021-09-02T10:00:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/224161372021-09-02T10:00:00-05:002021-09-02T10:00:00-05:002021 Cubs Heroes and Goats: Game 134
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<img alt="MLB: Chicago Cubs at Minnesota Twins" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ILc7CeceJlWjCNS5cdqcDIVdCsA=/379x42:1958x1095/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69808243/usa_today_16666702.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Cubs sweep Twins in late season push! </p> <p id="5tSXq0">If only my headline meant they were making a late season push for a division title or home field advantage or something. Instead, the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> moved ahead of the Twins for the season. Only ahead means behind them in the draft order. And of course, the two teams are close in the standings. But with fewer than 30 games to go the Cubs are sitting at the eighth pick for next year. The reason? They’ve won five of 10. For a while, the Cubs seemed like an elevator with a snapped cord. But now it appears they are going to Mike Quade themselves out of several spots in the draft. </p>
<p id="cAYQfp">Many of you will recall that the Cubs were 51-74 under Lou Piniella in 2010 and then Lou abruptly retired. The Cubs promoted Quade and the team went 24-13 down the stretch. At the end of the day, they still finished in fifth place and the Cubs were an organization on the way down, not up. </p>
<p id="xpXLQC">To be clear, I’m just enough old school that I find tanking distasteful. I just know which result helps more in the long run. There are certainly days where I wish I was capable of being a ruthless person about this. Of course, what I root for and don’t root for as a fan doesn’t materially alter anything and that phone I don’t hear ringing is the Cubs (and every other front office) not particularly interested in hiring me on as a consultant. </p>
<p id="QY8LGr">Also, to be fair, this rant is aired on the wrong day. I could probably register some mock frustration at some of the wins. Very much like the movie Major League, the Cubs appear to have brought up the wrong guys if their goal was to suck. Patrick Wisdom, Frank Schwindel and Rafael Ortega are leading a ragtag group of misfits who are almost to a man woefully inexperienced at the big league level. If I described myself as mildly skeptical that those three will produce meaningful value at the major league level next year and going forward, I’d probably be overstating my confidence in any of them. To be clear, I’m loving the stories. If that isn’t obvious from me gushing over one or more of them virtually every day, I’ll say it here. They’ve been the silver lining to this season. </p>
<p id="2Ddegf">But as I said, a rant on an “untimely” win is totally misplaced following Wednesday’s game. The game featured two of the Cubs’ young pitchers combining for nine innings of two-hit ball. If the Cubs are going to turn the needle up quickly, they are almost certainly going to need Adbert Alzolay and Justin Steele to be effective pitchers in some role. To be clear, the Twins aren’t the ‘27 Yankees, but those are major league hitters and those two young pitchers mowed them down. Schwindel added all of the offense the team needed for the night on one swing and continued his torrid finish to the season. </p>
<p id="k4IQ5c">Let’s go to the numbers and look at how those performances shake out. As you’ll recall, the Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA (Win Probability Added) and are not in any way subjective. Many days WPA will not tell the story of what happened, but often it can give at least a glimpse to who rose to the occasion in a high-leverage moment or who didn’t get the job done in that moment. And now, let’s get to the results.</p>
<p id="5q1yHo"><strong>Game 134, September 1: </strong>Cubs 3 at Twins 0 (59-75)</p>
<div id="khzDa0">
<iframe src="https://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=wins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2021-09-01&team=Twins&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span style="font-size:9pt;">Source: <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2021-09-01&team=Twins&dh=0&season=2021">FanGraphs</a></span>
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<p id="EFmm18"><strong>THREE HEROES:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="V6qJZe">
<strong>Superhero: </strong>Justin Steele (.261). 5IP, 19 batters faced, H, 3BB, 3K, HBP (W 3-2)</li>
<li id="TNci5e">
<strong>Hero: </strong>Frank Schwindel (.225). 1-4, HR (7), 3RBI, R</li>
<li id="kjp1Xf">
<strong>Sidekick: </strong>Adbert Alzolay (.216). 4IP, 13 batters faced, H, 5K (Sv 1)</li>
</ul>
<p id="LBi5lO"><strong>THREE GOATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="0RheqV">
<strong>Billy Goat: </strong>Rafael Ortega (-.118). 0-4</li>
<li id="WCXKeO">
<strong>Goat: </strong>Sergio Alcantara (-.058). 0-3, 2K</li>
<li id="xfy0yI">
<strong>Kid: </strong>Patrick Wisdom (-.054). 0-4, K</li>
</ul>
<p id="aFxGwy"><strong>WPA Play of the Game: </strong>Frank Schwindel batted with runners on second and third with two outs in a scoreless game in the third. It was no longer tied after his three-run homer. (.256)</p>
<p id="8s8sUv">*Twins Play of the Game: Just in front of the homer, Rafael Ortega batted with one out and runners on second and third. His lazy fly to center didn’t get a run in. (.085)</p>
<div id="Sq0tmU"><div data-anthem-component="poll:10731560"></div></div>
<p id="85LGnJ"><strong>Rizzo Award Cumulative Standings: </strong>(Top 5/Bottom 5)</p>
<ul>
<li id="uhsmtC"><em>Kris Bryant +26</em></li>
<li id="zZ6GqC">Patrick Wisdom +20 (-1)</li>
<li id="zRGtBW"><em>Craig Kimbrel +20</em></li>
<li id="D57IwN">Rafael Ortega +14 (-3)</li>
<li id="ikBLxB">Frank Schwindel +12 (+2)</li>
<li id="oF0uvE">*PJ Higgins/Rex Brothers -9.5</li>
<li id="2BRVOK">Ian Happ -11</li>
<li id="cak22Q">*David Bote -12</li>
<li id="CkZMZW">Zach Davies -14</li>
<li id="5FPcP3"><em>Jake Arrieta -19</em></li>
</ul>
<p id="oMjzSH"><strong>Up Next: </strong>The Cubs return home for a four-game set with the Pirates. This was one of the difficult parts of Jed Hoyer’s decision on what to do with the Cubs. The second half of the Cubs schedule was awfully weak. If you haven’t noticed, the Cardinals have made a bit of a move and are over .500. They will fall well short of a playoff spot. Of course they are looking at the twilight of Yadier Molina’s career and the latter part of Adam Wainwright’s and just traded for Nolan Arenado, so they are in a much, much different part of their competitive window. I have no reason to believe that the Cubs wouldn’t have pushed back over .500 if they’d kept the “band” together. But they weren’t going to get back into contention. So does that get you some shiny participation trophy?</p>
<p id="ZY2Mqk">Another of the Cubs young pitchers starts tonight in Keegan Thompson (3-3, 3.09). He’ll face Mitch Keller for the Pirates (4-10, 6.75). This sure looks like a three-game winning streak on paper. </p>
<p id="1OBs4l"> </p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/9/2/22653737/2021-cubs-heroes-and-goats-game-134Thomas Smith2021-09-02T08:00:00-05:002021-09-02T08:00:00-05:00Cubs 3, Twins 0: Frank Schwindel, mayor of the Schwindy City
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5jgAUTg3PAQ0GceHRjmMIFiy7Xw=/50x36:3151x2103/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69807669/usa_today_16667173.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>That was among the best Chicago Cubs performances of the entire 2021 season.</p> <p id="xtUZzW">You know, maybe, just maybe, some of these sub Cubs can play, just a little.</p>
<p id="Zpv1dI">Outstanding pitching and a three-run homer from Frank Schwindel produced a solidly-played <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-twins/2021/09/01/632689">3-0 win over the Twins</a> Wednesday in Minneapolis, giving the Cubs a sweep of the two-game series. It was the first series sweep of any kind by a Cubs team since June 11-13 over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p id="THWj5H">Justin Steele was a bit shaky early, issuing a walk in the first and another in the second inning, where he also hit a batter. But he got out of that second inning with a double play, and then the Cubs offense got to work.</p>
<p id="zyrtNg">Alfonso Rivas led off the third with a walk, and one out later Andrew Romine doubled him to third. After Rafael Ortega flied to center, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-09/01/3f4bc4e1-47976538-940b4e2c-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Schwindel did his thing [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2021%2F2021-09%2F01%2F3f4bc4e1-47976538-940b4e2c-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="yLQ9Wh"></p>
<p id="g89oQh">I admit that I have been somewhat dismissive of Schwindel in his month-plus as a Cub, but the man has done nothing but hit since he joined the active roster after the selloff. With the Cubs he is hitting .337/.385/.644 (34-for-101) with seven home runs (he’s got eight overall this year including one with the A’s). He’s now homered in three consecutive games. A lot of this is probably due to a BABIP of .365, which is likely not sustainable. But it sure is fun to watch, as is the Schwindel Face:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4vTWxK5YCGATxr_Zm6UAhRKGdGI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22822214/1334040558.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="hAmzYX">Anyway, Steele got himself in trouble again in the fourth with two baserunners allowed, but worked his way out of that inning as well and was removed after a 1-2-3 fifth. Overall he threw a season-high 86 pitches, which is more than you’d like to see for five innings, but give Steele credit for getting himself out of trouble.</p>
<p id="tryk7G">The Cubs had just two hits after Schwindel’s home run, a third-inning single by Ian Happ and another single in the seventh by Jason Heyward, but it didn’t matter because of the pitching of Steele and Adbert Alzolay, who was making his first appearance after being activated earlier in the day from the injured list.</p>
<p id="j819RN">So now I ask: Where has this Alzolay been all year? He was absolutely dominant, retiring 12 of the 13 batters he faced, allowing just a one-out single in the seventh and recording those 12 outs on just 40 pitches. <a href="https://bdata-producedclips.mlb.com/6b841642-c63c-40c7-81aa-e31d58f7f4d1.mp4">Look at this pitch to Miguel Sano that ended the game [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbdata-producedclips.mlb.com%2F6b841642-c63c-40c7-81aa-e31d58f7f4d1.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
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<p id="1leF4p"></p>
<p id="0dEIzq">More of this from Alzolay, please. The four-inning outing finishing the game gave Alzolay his first MLB save. He’s just the fourth Cub to post a four-inning save since 2000 (and looking at these numbers, it’s probably the best of the four):</p>
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<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Rk</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Player</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ffa; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Date</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Tm</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Opp</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">Rslt</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">App,Dec</th>
<th scope="col" data-filter="1" data-name="Innings Pitched" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">IP</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">H</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">R</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">ER</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">BB</th>
<th scope="col" style="background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;">SO</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">1</th>
<td csk="AlzolayAdbert" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alzolad01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Adbert Alzolay</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN202109010.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">2021-09-01</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/2021.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">CHC</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/2021.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">MIN</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">W 3-0</td>
<td csk="4" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">6-GF, S</td>
<td data-endpoint="/baseball/pe.cgi?html=1&game-id=MIN202109010-alzolad01" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "> 4.0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">2</th>
<td csk="MontgomeryMike" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/montgmi01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mike Montgomery</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201705250.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">2017-05-25</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/2017.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">CHC</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2017.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">SFG</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">W 5-1</td>
<td csk="4" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">6-GF, S</td>
<td data-endpoint="/baseball/pe.cgi?html=1&game-id=CHN201705250-montgmi01" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "> 4.0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">0</td>
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<tr>
<th scope="row" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">3</th>
<td csk="GallagherSean" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gallase01.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sean Gallagher</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200707180.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">2007-07-18</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/2007.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">CHC</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2007.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">SFG</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">W 12-1</td>
<td csk="4" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">6-GF, S</td>
<td data-endpoint="/baseball/pe.cgi?html=1&game-id=CHN200707180-gallase01" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "> 4.0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">4</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">0</td>
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<th scope="row" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">4</th>
<td csk="AndersonJimmy" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/anderji02.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jimmy Anderson</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200406140.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">2004-06-14</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/2004.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">CHC</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2004.shtml?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool" rel="noopener" target="_blank">HOU</a></td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">W 7-2</td>
<td csk="4" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">6-GF, S</td>
<td data-endpoint="/baseball/pe.cgi?html=1&game-id=HOU200406140-anderji02" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; "> 4.0</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">5</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">2</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">1</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px; white-space: nowrap; ">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div id="credit_result_table" class="sr_share" style="font-size: 0.83em;">Provided by <a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/sharing.html?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">Stathead.com</a>: <a href="https://stathead.com/baseball/game_finder.cgi?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=ShareTool">View Stathead Tool Used</a><br>Generated 9/2/2021.</div>
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</center></div>
<p id="gdBQh0"></p>
<p id="DcsCXo">The win wrapped up a winning road trip for the Cubs — granted, only five games and a 3-2 record — but it was the first winning Cubs trip since May 21-27, when they won five of six in St. Louis and Pittsburgh. Two of the three wins on this trip were shutouts, perhaps a sign that the pitching staff is starting to find itself. Lastly, at 2:28 this game was over an hour shorter than Tuesday’s and also the fastest nine-inning game of the 2021 Cubs season (and among only <a href="https://stathead.com/tiny/n2cbb">33 MLB nine-inning games this year</a> completed in 2:28 or less).</p>
<p id="Vxd6Sh">The Cubs and Twins will meet again for another two-game series September 21 and 22 at Wrigley Field.</p>
<p id="er4pr3">Meanwhile, the Cubs return to Wrigley Thursday to begin a 10-game homestand, longest of the 2021 season. It begins with a four-game series against the Pirates. Keegan Thompson will start for the Cubs Thursday evening and Mitch Keller is the scheduled starter for the Pirate. Game time is 7:05 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/9/2/22653708/cubs-twins-recap-frank-schwindel-adbert-alzolay-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2021-09-01T20:40:00-05:002021-09-01T20:40:00-05:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Twins, Wednesday 9/1, 7:10 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q-2m5tVVB-YfWABkQiZFgTRu5HY=/0x0:2935x1957/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69806476/1234984255.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Berding/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="QSxbl7">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/9/1/22652091/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-twins-wednesday-9-1-7-10-ctAl Yellon2021-09-01T19:05:00-05:002021-09-01T19:05:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Twins, Wednesday 9/1, 7:10 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YTBBBckDVLbgbSqwFPF4_hR2La8=/284x383:2475x1844/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69806284/1334736895.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="QSxbl7">Go get ‘em, Justin.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/9/1/22652089/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-twins-wednesday-9-1-7-10-ctAl Yellon2021-09-01T17:00:00-05:002021-09-01T17:00:00-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Minnesota Twins preview, Wednesday 9/1, 7:10 CT
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tMrr-4Q0F4F3_RU3GeagM7v_nWs=/103x111:2929x1995/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69805870/1234984894.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by David Berding/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs go for a two-game sweep!</p> <p id="RdHxK4">Today’s roster moves: <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/9/1/22644425/cubs-adbert-alzolay-dillon-maples-rosters-expand">Here</a></p>
<p id="hQ8G9a">Wednesday notes...</p>
<ul>
<li id="djILj3">
<strong>HAPP-ENINGS:</strong> Ian Happ hit his 17th home run of the season Tuesday night. It was just his third off a left-handed pitcher. Happ now has homers in three of his last five games. The homer traveled an estimated 437 feet, his second longest of the 2021 season behind a 439-foot blast on August 13 at Miami. Since August 13 Happ is hitting .333/.390/.759 (18-for-54) with five doubles and six home runs and has raised his season OPS from .599 to .681.</li>
<li id="81K1i8">
<strong>SCHWINDY CITY UPDATE:</strong> Frank Schwindel opened Tuesday night’s scoring with a first-pitch solo homer in the first inning. He has hit safely in 22 of his first 27 games with the Cubs since July 30, hitting .340/.390/.629 (33-for-97) with eight doubles, one triple, six home runs, 18 RBI in that span.</li>
<li id="J1xHvu">
<strong>HEY HEY J-HEY!:</strong> Jason Heyward is on a six-game hitting streak during which he is batting .450/.476/.550 (9-for-20) with two doubles. He’s raised his season OPS from .579 to .608 in that span.</li>
<li id="3CglzJ">
<strong>THIS GUY HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD:</strong> Adam Morgan has posted a 2.40 ERA (four earned runs in 15 innings) in his last 19 games since July 17, walking four, striking out 20 and holding opponents to a .189 average (10-for-53) and a .246 on-base percentage.</li>
</ul>
<p id="yyq6TO">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="pIPD1J"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/chicago-cubs"></a><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="9RXrxO">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is tonight's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> starting lineup. <a href="https://t.co/PWDrV3VsUU">pic.twitter.com/PWDrV3VsUU</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1433171825719132172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="vmfAJU"><a href="https://www.twinkietown.com">Twins</a> lineup:</p>
<div id="ER8hkK">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Twins?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Twins</a> Lineup 09/01/21<br><br>1. Byron Buxton CF<br>2. Jorge Polanco 2B<br>3. Rob Refsnyder RF<br>4. Josh Donaldson 3B<br>5. Miguel Sano DH<br>6. Brent Rooker LF<br>7. Ryan Jeffers C<br>8. Willians Astudillo 1B<br>9. Andrelton Simmons SS<br><br>Starting Pitcher : Joe Ryan</p>— Daily MLB Lineups (@DailyMLBLineup) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyMLBLineup/status/1433148963075485697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2 id="GgR9hc">Justin Steele, LHP vs. Joe Ryan, RHP</h2>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/y7sPfNutIBopIudFSjBMWH93uD8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22772787/usa_today_15749642.jpg">
<cite>USA TODAY Sports</cite>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/1S5ymugj3QlKjWFG19yWGj5DXek=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22817622/joeryan.jpg">
<cite>USA TODAY NETWORK</cite>
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</div>
<p id="k6iN7Z">Justin Steele has had one good start and two mediocre ones since joining the Cubs rotation in August.</p>
<p id="BRqGo6">Steele has never faced the Twins; the only current Twin who’s ever seen him is Willians Astudillo, who faced him in two relief appearances Steele made for Triple-A Iowa in July.</p>
<p id="lQrYm7">Steele won’t have to bat tonight; perhaps he can go a bit longer in this game, as his max MLB pitch count is 82.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vUDmo6_hF8s1qCLi800uJr2XQWc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22817650/Screen_Shot_2021_08_31_at_12.35.34_PM.png">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/pitchmix#657006_2021" target="_blank">Statcast</a></cite>
</figure>
<p id="1VQCI7">Joe Ryan was the Rays’ seventh-round pick in the 2018 draft (for reference, the Cubs’ pick in <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2018&draft_round=7&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round">that round</a> was D.J. Artis).</p>
<p id="pIrcmo">He was acquired by the Twins in the Nelson Cruz deal, spent time in Tokyo this summer with the U.S. Olympic baseball team, and has made two starts for Triple-A St. Paul since returning. One of those starts was against the Iowa Cubs <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-saints/2021/08/20/646385#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=646385">August 20 in St. Paul</a>, where Alfonso Rivas went 0-for-2 against him. Ryan struck out the first six I-Cubs he faced.</p>
<p id="FDA023">Ryan will be making his MLB debut tonight.</p>
<p id="0Iewtn">Overall his minor-league career has shown a good K rate (13.0 per nine innings) as well as a good walk rate (2.1 per nine innings), so it’s obvious he throws strikes. Cubs hitters should look to put the ball in play.</p>
<p id="ofQViY">Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/providers/">Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee<strong>.</strong></a> </p>
<p id="6w2xna"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2021/09/01">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="Xe5URc"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2021_09_01_chnmlb_minmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="iDRiK8"><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2021/CHA202108280.shtml">Baseball-r</a><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2021/CHA202108290.shtml">e</a><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/2021/MIN202109010.shtml">ference.com game preview</a></p>
<p id="7oSHCm">Please visit our SB Nation Twins site <a href="http://www.twinkietown.com/">Twinkie Town</a>. If you do go there to interact with Twins fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.</p>
<p id="mRtOMf">The 2021 Game Thread procedure will be a bit different than previous years. It will be similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.</p>
<p id="uNrOo7">You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).</p>
<p id="Jy7Er2">At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.</p>
<p id="F5ehVY">You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-game-threads">this section link</a>). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.</p>
<p id="pjBR1E">The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.</p>
<p id="cWIBoH">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
<p id="XwbQDp"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/9/1/22648322/chicago-cubs-minnesota-twins-preview-wednesdayAl Yellon